In a significant policy shift announced in early February 2026, NASA has cleared the use of the latest smartphones for astronauts on upcoming missions. This marks the first time that contemporary consumer devices, including recent iPhone and Android models, have been fully qualified for extended operations in orbit and beyond.

The announcement came directly from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman via a post on X (formerly Twitter). He stated: “NASA astronauts will soon fly with the latest smartphones, beginning with Crew-12 and Artemis II. We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world. Just as important, we challenged long-standing processes and qualified modern hardware for spaceflight on an expedited timeline.”

Historically, astronauts on NASA missions have relied on specialized, ruggedized equipment that often dated back years or even decades. For instance, cameras approved for the Artemis II mission included a 2016 Nikon DSLR and GoPro models that were over a decade old. Concerns such as electromagnetic interference, radiation vulnerability, battery safety, and overall certification requirements had previously barred standard smartphones from spaceflight.

Recent rigorous testing addressed these issues, allowing NASA to approve modern devices. This change enables crews to document their experiences more spontaneously and with superior image quality, leveraging advanced built-in cameras, sensors, and computational photography features that astronauts are already familiar with from everyday use.

The policy takes effect immediately with two high-profile missions:

• Crew-12: A SpaceX-operated flight to the International Space Station, set to launch in February 2026. This mission will serve as the initial testbed for smartphone use in low Earth orbit.
• Artemis II: NASA’s first crewed mission under the Artemis program since Apollo, planned for a March 2026 launch window following earlier delays related to technical issues with the Space Launch System rocket. The crew will perform a lunar flyby—the first human mission to venture near the Moon in over 50 years—providing an unprecedented opportunity for smartphone-captured views of Earth, lunar landscapes, and deep space.

While private spaceflight ventures, including some SpaceX missions, have occasionally used smartphones in the past, this represents NASA’s official endorsement and qualification of such devices for agency-led operations. An Apple spokesperson noted that this would be the first time iPhones have been certified for prolonged use in orbit and on lunar trajectories.

The move is expected to enrich public engagement with space exploration. Astronauts will have greater flexibility to share personal moments, high-resolution photos, and videos in near real-time (subject to mission communication constraints), making these journeys feel more accessible and human. As missions grow more ambitious, NASA’s accelerated qualification of commercial hardware could streamline operations and reduce reliance on custom-built gear.

This development underscores a broader trend toward integrating cutting-edge consumer technology into spaceflight, blending innovation with safety to inspire the next generation of explorers. With Crew-12 and Artemis II on the horizon, the world may soon see some of the most vivid and personal imagery ever returned from space.

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